Clamp stick



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. T. TIPSORD CLAMP STICK Filed July 18, 1935 March 19, 1940.

Anne/wr fivvzwroza MELVIN 7. 77/ 50120 March 19, 1940. TIPSQRD 2,194,411

CLAMP STICK Filed July 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k, V 29; Z1

Amer/roe Ma W Z" 77/ 50190 3y ATTOE/YEY Patented Mar. 19, 1940 CLAMP .s'rrcK Melvin T.. Tlpserd, st. Louis, Mo., assignor to James It.'.Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo.,

a corporation of Missouri H. v Application July 18, 1935, Serial No. 32,004

*6 Claims. motel-53y This invention relates generally to" clamp sticks of the type adapted for'use'in attachingclamps to or removing clamps from power lines, and more specifically to an improved clamp stick of this type which is capable of ready and convenient attachment to or detachment from the operating element of a clamp, the predominant object of the invention beingfto provide'a clamp I stick having an improvedclamp-engaging head which is so constructed and arranged, and is capable of such use, that the socket portion of said head which receives the operating element of a clamp may be lockedin an open position to receive such operating element. of a clamp,

and locked in. a closed position after the-socket portion of the head 'has'received the'operating element of a clamp so as to prevent accidental disengagement of the clamp stick and a clamp.

Fig. l is a view partly in elevation and partly ,m in vertical section, showing one form of the improved clamp stick in association with a clamp,

a part of the" handle portion of the clamp stick being broken away. I

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. l. v e Fig. 3 is a horizontal section'on line 3-3 of Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryelevation of 'a portion of the head ofthe improved clamp stick, with a portion of a clamp associated therewith.

.30 Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of.

Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of-another form of the invention. a I

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section on line 'l.-'l of Fig. 8 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9- 9- of r Fig. 8'. Fig. 10is a side elevation illustrating a form of the improved clamp stick having a pole or handle portion which is removable attached to the head of the clamp stick.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the structure-illustrated in Fig. 10, but showing same as it appears when viewed from a different angle. 1

In the drawings, wherein are shown for purposes of illustration, merely, several embodiments of the invention, "A illustrates in Figs. 1. to 5, in-

elusive, a clamp which is adapted'to be applied to a power line'for the purpose of making electrical connection therewith. The clamp A includes a fixed jaw B with which is associated suitable-clamping means 0 which serve as means ,for mechanically and electrically attaching a vlead ofi wire or jumperto the clamp. The clamp A'incl-udes a movable jaw D which is movable to"- warcland from the fixed jaw B, said movable jaw-C when mov'ed toward the fixed. jaw B being adapted to clamp, a power line between said .5 jaws in, an obvious 'rnanner. Movement is imparted to the movable jaw'D by a screw-threaded operating element which at its outer or lower end is providedwith an eye F.

The improved clamp stick is designated gen- 10 erally in Figs. l to 5, inclusive, by the reference character S, and said clamp stick includes an elongated pole i which serves as a' handle, said pole being formed of suitablewood treated to give to same the maximum electrical'insulating 15 properties. Fixed to an end of the pole l is a head 2 which includes a tubular element 3, an end portion of said pole i being extended into an end of said tubular element 3, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and said head being s'e- 2 curely fixed to said pole through the instrumentality of pins l which'arepassedin opposite directions through openings formed through the wall of said tubularelement and through said pole. .25

At its outer or upper-end the tubular. elernent 3 is provided with a wall portion 5, through which is formed an opening ii shaped as shown most clearly in Fig. 3; that is-to say, said opening 6 includes a central circular portion 6 from which go extensions 6? project in opposite directions. The opening 6, when measured from end to end of the extension thereof, is of substantially the same length as the inner diameter of the tubular element 3, andthe wall portions 5 at opposite sides of the opening 6 areoi more or less tapered formation, being provided'with inclined, lower 'faces 5' (Fig. 2), which extend downwardly and outwardly from the lower, end of the circular, central portion of the opening 6 to the inner face (40 of. the tubular element. The extensions 6 of the opening 6 are formed in the opposed tapered portions of the wall portion 5, as shown in Fig. 2. Mounted 'for rotary movement on the slightly enlarged portion 7 of the tubular element 3 is a 5 cap 8, which includes a top wall 8* from the' margin'of which a downwardly directed flange 8 is extended, the inner face of saidflange being in moving contact with the outer face ofthe upper, enlarged portion 1 of the tubular element. 50 The flange is provided with an elongated open- 'ingxfiiormed therethrough, and this opening The head portion of the screw I 0 limits rotary movement of the cap about the tubular element, as when the limit of rotation of the cap in either direction is reached an end of the slot contacts with the head portion of the screw. The extension of the head portion of the screw l0 into the opening 9 also prevents accidental disengagement of the cap from the tubular element. The flange 8 of the cap is also provided with a pair of apertures H and I2, which are located ap proximately 90 from each other, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. The apertures ii and i2 serve as keepers for a ball 13 which serves as a locking means for locking the cap in various positions relative to the tubular element 3. The ball i3 is located in an opening 14 formed inthe wall portion 5 of the tubular element, a coil. spring l6 being interposed between the base of the opening M and said ball, whereby said ball is forced in an outward direction by said coil spring.

The top wall of the cap 8 has an opening I! formed therethroughwhich in shape resembles the opening 6 formed through the top wall portion of the tubular element 3. That is to say, the opening IT has a central, circular portion H, and substantially straight extensions I! project outwardly in opposite directions from said central, circular portion. The extensions ll extend to the outer face of the cap, which causesnotches 18 to appear at opposite sides of the cap, as shown in.

Fig. 4. Also, at opposite sides of the central, circular portion of the opening I7 curved notches I9 are provided which serve a function to be hereinafter set forth. r

When it is desired to employ the improved clamp stick in applying a clamp to a power line, the eye F of the operating element E is introduced into the socket of the head 2 of the, clamp stick, the cap 8 first being positioned so that the opening I! thereof is completely alined with thecorrespondingly shaped opening 6 formed in the top wall portion 5 of the tubular element 3. When said openings 6 and I! are so alined the eye of the operating element of the clamp may be passed inwardly into the socket of the head through the alined central portions and extensio'nsof the openings. When the cap 8 ispositioned to provide alinement of the openings 6 and H, the locking ball I3 is extended into the aperture I l of said cap, whereby the socket of the head 2 of the clamp stick is locked in an open position. Y

When the eye F of the operating element E of the clamp has been introduced into the socket of the head 2, the cap is rotated 90 about the tubular element, and when this position is reached the ball I3 snaps into the aperture l2 of the cap to lock the cap in the position to. which it has been moved. Also, when the cap is in this position the opening I! formed in the top wall of thecap is disposed at a substantial right angle to the opening 6 in the upper wall portion 5 of the tubu-;

lar element 3, as shown in Fig. 5. When the cap 8 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, the portions 8 of the top wall of the cap move into overhanging relation with respect to the eye F of the clamp-operating element E, as shown most clearly in Fig. l, and thus said eye is prevented from being accidentally disengaged from It will be noted the head of the clamp stick. that when the eye F of the operating'element E of the clamp is locked in place within the head of the clamp stick, portions of said eye are received by the curved notches H! at opposite sides of the circular, central portion of the open-; I a

ing I! of the'cap 8.

tach the clamp to a power line, the clamp stick is moved longitudinally of the operating element of the clamp until the clamp rests upon the top- I- wall of the cap 8, thelower portion of the ex-,

tension B of the clamp at such timetbeing received in one of the notches l8 in the cap8. This provides such support for the clamp-as to prevent accidental displacement of the clamp relative to the head of the clamp stick during movement of the clamp and clamp stick vertically to apply the clampto an overhead wire. When the position of the wireis reached the clamp is moved onto the wire so that said wire is extended.

between the fixed jaw B and the movable jaw D, v a and the clamp stickis then moved downwardly 20 until th eye F thereof is again positioned inf relative to the operating element of the clamp the openings 6 and IT. The clamp stick may then be rotated about its axis to rotate the screwthreaded operating elementE of the clampand thereby move the movable jaw D of the clamp upwardly to clamp the wire between said movable and the fixed jaw B of the clamp. In

connection with the axial rotation of the clamp stick when the movable jaw of the clamp is being i moved upwardly or downwardly, it is to be noted that the more or less universal connection be tween the clamp stick and said operating element, of the clamp permits of said operating element being rotated when the clamp stick is extended at a slight angle relative to the axis of the operating element. This is important where it is not possible for an operator to assume a position immediately beneath the clamp. 1 q

When the clamp has been securely clamped to the wire in the manner described, the clamp stick ment E of the clamp until the lower end portion of the extension B of the clamp is received inone of the notches l8 of the cap 8 of the head 2.

The clam-p stick is then rotated approximately 90- relative to the cap 8 toagain bring the openings 6 and I? into, complete registration, whereupon" the clamp stick may be disengaged from the op erating element of the clamp. In like manner,

when it is desired to remove a clamp from a wire the clamp stick with the openings 6 and Min registration is moved onto the'operatin'g element E of the clamp, and said clamp stick is moved longitudinally of said operating element of the clamp until the lower portion of the extension B'f of the clamp enters one of the notches It in the Q cap 8' of th clamp stick. The clamp stick is top wall of the tubular element 3 out of registration with the opening I! in thecap 8, whereby I the eye F of the operating element E of the clamp is locked within the head of the clamp.

stick. The clamp stick is then moved downwardly relative totheoperating element of the clamp to bring the eye F thereof in the openings il'and then rotated axially to move the opening 6V in the Y I7, whereupon the operating'element of the clamp may be rotated with the aid of the clamp stick to move the movable jaw of said'c lamp away from the wire. Whenthe mova'blejjaw of the clamp has'been moved away from the wire as described l,

40 f p is movedupwardly relative to the operating ele locked relation with respect to the 1 aims "seek. It' is important to 'note that because or: the locking ball l3. and the? apertures .i-il and l'z, the

I ."socket of "the head may be positivelylocked in ffi open and closed positions, -thus=insuring proper -registr'a tion of therope'nings 5 and L1 when said socket is inthe open 'position'andipreventing"accidental'.displacement of the operating element 3 of a'clar'npfrom said socket when samejji's'in the a v cl'osediposition 1 t a As 'has -been stated here'imthe clamp A illustrated-sin Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,gis provided with ,an operating elementlE which "has an eye 'F at its outerend. l There'is also in common use a clamp, Y the operating element of whichfincludes "at its outerfend a multifaced elementytas showh in Figs. 6, 7; and 8, whereini'E'@designatesthe opcrating element of a clamp and F desi-gnates'a v hexagonal element arranged atthe outer end of "said operating element. InFig .7, 8, and-.9 is illustrated a form' of clamp stick :eadaptedcfor use with-aclamp having the hexagonalelement associated with theoperating element thereof. In "this forrnof the invention the tubular element-20 fis'provi'ded with an inverted T-shapedyslot 2i,

, which is fornied atxthe top "thereoflysaid "slot including a vertically. extended portion open at the top 'o'f'the tubular element, as shownin Fig;

Brenda wider horizontal portion which .-i s disposed some distance below thetop edge of the tubular element. The inner face :of the tubular element 20 at the top thereof is providedwith a pluralitylof' faces 22 arranged in correspondence 'with'th'e faces of theelement F" on theoperating element E of the-clamp. The structure shown in Figspfito 9,inclusive;includesalsoja cap 23'hav-,

' a 'ing an opening 24 formed in itstop wall shaped'as shownin Fig.7, said opening including a'wcircu Jar,- central portion 24%,, -a-flared', forwardly err-- tending'portion'Z l 'which is open atits outer end,

and a substantially straight extension 24} The open-end of the flared portion 24 ofthe opening I 24 communicates with an inverted substantially I -shaped. opening 25 'formed in 'thef'sid wall ofv :the .cap jwhich corresponds in shape'and dimen" sions'to the T-shaped' opening 21 formed inthe I side wall of the tuhularelement v2!! 'atj-the top thereof The cap 23 is mounted for rotary ino've-. I ment about the slightly enlarged-upper portion ztdjoif the tubular element 20, said cap being pro-' l vided with an elongated slot 21 in which the head portion vof ascrjew 28fisdisp'osed. The-screw28 is seated in a screw threaded opening formed in the wall otthe tubular element 20 as shown in -,;with a spring-pressed locking ball 29-which is adapted to'enter apertures ,31] and .3! in the cap Fig. 9, the head ofsaidscrew serving-to limit rotary movement of the .cap '23- and acting to prevent accidental displacement-of the cap from the" tubular :element. ,The ,cap also is provided 1 element E and the multi-faced element F there- 7 of tob'e moved laterally into the interior of the tubular element, the element F passing through the wider, lower, horizontal portions of the allne'd openings, and the shank of the operating element [passing through the upper, vertically disposed portions of the alined openings; The tubular'ela ,ment and cap are'then subjected to relative rotarymovem'ent so as to move the openings; out

extension 36;

of registration withjeach, other, as shown in Fig. 9, and thereby prevent accidental disengage-.

ment of the'head $2?- .of the clamp stick and the operating elementof the clamplx Q'Ihe form of the inventionv illustrated in Figs. 6? to ,9 is ,used j as is the'pform of the invention shown" in Figs. 1 to 5, and because the manner ot-use of the lastmentioned form has been previously described herein," it need not he again described in connection: withv the form of the invention shown in Figs fi to 9.

The polesyproviding the handles of the two forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, are permanently fixed" to the tubular "elements of saidstructures'gbut instead of such permanent attachment of the poles I may provide means for removablyattaching the heads of the clamp. sticks to the' poles thereof, as shown in.

Figs. 10 and ll." In these views l designates the poleof the vstructureand 2? designates the head thereof.

opening 33 about which is formed a plurality of radial splines 34;.. In like manner the pole i has fixedto an end thereof a cap 35 which is provided with. an extension- 35 having an opening formed therethrough, and formed on said extension about the opening 31 is a plurality of radial splines 31'. When the pole and the head of the structure shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are attached, the splines on' the portion BZ and theextension tit-are arranged inrengaging relation with each other asshoivn most clearly in Fig; 11, and a boltw38 is extended through the openings .33 and 31 of portiongtl and said extension 36 to secure said "parts together; said "bolt being in screw-threaded engagement ,with screwthreads formed Within-the lclaimt 1. An implement for'handlinga hot-wire clamp shank having an enlarged head; the implement includingaha ndle, an elongated hollow socket mounted thereon and constructed to receive the shank and its head-and an element mounted for circumferential oscillationxon.thefopen end of the socket, the element :and'so'cketheing constructed to lock the head from withdrawal when the element and socket are relatively rotated in opposite directions and to a predetermined extent but permitting withdrawal or insertion of the head and shank when ,theelemen t' andsocket are relatively rotated in the other direction to I a predetermined extent, the element having;

means for engaging the oodyof the clamp, for

unitary movement with the body, upon an-up ward thrust of the handle and-socket, the socket having means for engaging the shank head for unitary r'otative movement upon a retraction of.

the handle and. socket relative to the bodyg,

2, An implement for handling a hot-wire clamp ,,l1aving a body and a screwthreaded actuating opening 3] of the The head .2 is provided with an extendedfiportion 32 which, is provided with an havingqa body and an elongated'screwthreaded shank formed atits lower endlwith-a flattened,

transversely enlarged head, thejimplement including a pole supported socket and a, cap r0- tatable thereon, the'c'ap and socket each having a slot to receive the head, the slots when in registered position permitting entry of the head into the socketand when out f register preventing the withdrawalof the head, the cap being ro- 'tatable a limited distance, iro'mitsregistering position, the interior of the socket fleeing longer than the length oftheshank below said clamp (body and" having the interior diameter larger than'the inajor diameteryof the head, thelsl'ot inthe socket being constructed and arranged shank provided with an enlarged head; theimplement including a handle, an elongated hollow socket'mounted thereon and constructed to receive a portion of the shank of the clamp and the head thereof, and an'ele'ment mounted for circumferential oscillation on the socket, the element and socket being constructed, to lock the head of theshank of. the clamp from withdrawal from the socket when the element and socket are relatively rotated to one related condition but permitting withdrawal or insertion of the head and shank of the'clanip when the element and socket are relatively rotated to another related condition, the element having means for engaging the body of the clamp upon movement of the socket inwardly with respect to theshank of the clamp, and. the socket having means for engaging the shank head for unitary rotary move ment upon movement of the socket outwardly with respectto the shank of the clamp.

4. For use with a hot-wire clamp having a' downwardly elon'gated clamp-actuating screw shank provided with a diametrically elongated head at itslower end, the-body ofthe clamp having a'downwardly extending member; a clamp handling device, including a substantially cylindrical hollow socket having a length greater than the length of said shank and an internal diameter greater than the major diameter of the head, the socket having a supporting pole,

the upper end of the socket being formed with inwardly turned flanges defining a diametrically extending slot, a cap rotatalily mounted upon the socket andhaving inwardly turned flanges" de fining a diametrically extending slot, the cap being rotatable upon the socket to bring the slot of the cap into-registration with the slot of the socket or into a position atright angles thereto, and enacting means on the socket andcap limiting the rotative movement of the socket with relation to the cap to an angular distance of 90 from a position where the slots are coincident, each end of the cap slotbeing constructed and arranged to receive the said "member on thebody of the clamp between the flanges defining said slot, whereby the ends of the flanges of the socket will engage on each-side of the head of said screw when'the socket is pulled downward and whereby the slot of the cap will engage said the socket when the element and socket'are relati'velyrotated to 'one-v related conditio'rrlout pern'iitti-ng "withdrawal or insertion of the head} and shank of the clamp when the'element and socket are relatively rotated to another. related l shank o'f theiclamp when the element andsocket are relatively rotated toanother related COIldij "tion,v the element having meansfor engaging the body of the clamp upon movement .of the socket:

2,19,46,411 l l a member on] the :;bo,dy of the clamp, when the socket and cap are shifted upward to thus release l the head and holdithe cap frorn rotationfwhile the socket is turnedtorbring the .two' slots into register with each :other, 1, t

5. 'An implement for handling a hot wire clamp I having a body and an elongated screwthreaded shank provided :with an enlarged I head qtheg implement including a handle, an elongated hollow 1;

a'portion of the shank ofthe clamp and the head t l thereof, "and an element mountedffor circuInferential oscillation 'on the socket, the element; and socket being constructed to lockfthe'he'ad socket mounted thereon and constructed to receive of the'r'shank oftheclamp from withdrawal from condition, the element having means for; engaging; l thebody of the clampupon movement'oi the socket inwardly with respect to the shank or t;

immovable when it is desired" to osci llate thef socket-with respectto the element, and the'socket having means for engaging the, shank'headof 1 the 'clarnp-ifor unitaryrotation upon movementn o of-th'e soc'ketoutw'ardly with respect to the shank merit and socket in related positionsto which' r' the clamp whereby said element maybe held?- of the clamp, and means for retaining,.said ele-- they have-been adjusted;

{6. An implement for handling a hot wire clampl, I having abody and an elongated screwthreadedj shank provided with an enlarged head the Kim- 5 ple'ment including a handle,- an elongatedsocket mounted thereon" and constructed to receivefaj portion of the shank ofth'e clampand the headthereof, and an element'imounted for 'circumf ferenti'al oscillation on the socketgthe 'element mitting withdrawal 'or insertion of the head and" inwardly with respect-to the shank of the clamp forunitary rotation upon movement of. the socket "and socketbeing' constructed to lock thehead of a the shank of the clamp from withdrawalfromf I the socket when the element'and-socket are rela-- tated tonne related condition but perk 45H ,1

whereby said element may befheld immovable t when it is" desired to oscillate-the socket with" l "respect to the element, andfthesocket having "means for engaging the shank head'of the clamp outwardly with respect to the shank of the clamp, I, means for limiting relative rotative movement of M the element and'socket, and means for retaining said element and socket in related positions to which they have been adjusted. I i /rnLvm r r-apsonn, a 1 

